RED FLAG WARNING for the western 1/4 of Iowa
August 22nd, 2012 by Ric Hanson
MONONA-HARRISON-SHELBY-POTTAWATTAMIE-MILLS-MONTGOMERY-FREMONT AND PAGE COUNTIES
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN OMAHA/VALLEY HAS ISSUED A RED FLAG WARNING WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.
SOUTHERLY WINDS GUSTING TO AROUND 25 MPH ARE EXPECTED FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL FALL TO 15 TO 20 PERCENT THIS AFTERNOON. NO THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANY FIRES THAT DEVELOP MAY SPREAD RAPIDLY. OUTDOOR BURNING IS NOT RECOMMENDED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A RED FLAG WARNING MEANS THAT CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EITHER OCCURRING NOW…OR WILL SHORTLY. A COMBINATION OF STRONG WINDS…LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY…AND WARM TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE EXPLOSIVE FIRE GROWTH POTENTIAL.